Tank-car constructon



A. CAMPBELL.

TANK CAR CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. Io, 1921.

Patented Nov. 2.2, 1921.

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TANK CAR CONSTRUCTION. PPLICATION FILED MAR. 10. 192k 1,397,676. Y Patentamw 22,1921.

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ARGYLE CAMPBELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 ENTERPRISE RAILWA EQUIPMENT COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

TANK-'CAR CoNsanUcToN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

Application filed March 10, 1921. Serial No. 451,410.

To aZZ whomz't may concern l Be it known that I, ARGYLE CAMPBELL, a citizen-ofthe United States, residing,l at Chicago, in the county of Cook `and State `of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement :in Tank-Car Constructions, of .which 'the following is a frh-clear, concise, landexact description, reference being' Ihad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

`vThis invention relates to improvements in tank car constructions. y

One object ofthe invention `is to provide a tank carconstructionhaving a .low center of 'gravity to thereby minimi-ze `danger of tipping or derailment while the car is .in motion.

Anotherobject oi the invention is to provide a tank car construction of unusual rigidity especially vadapted to `withstand not only .all the usual shocks `encountered in service ,but unusual and excessive shocksand strains without danger of tearing out any ofthe securing yrivetsor equivalent fastening means employed to anchor the shell or tank proper.

.Another object vof the invention is to provide a shell or tank proper construction which, per ce, is effectively braced to withstand all tendency to .twist under loads resulting from surging of the contents.

A speciiic object of the invention is -to so arrange the *riveting area directly between the underframe structure proper of the car and the bottom of thetank proper that the rivets-aresubjfect to lesser shearinq stresses resulting'from Ashocks tending to shift the tan-k 4 proper ,relatively to the underframe, than fobtains in present .types .of tank .car constructions and furthermore y.to suminimi'ze theshearin'g.stressesfonthe .ri-vets withoutat thesame time increasingthe tendency of the tank .sheets to buckle.

Another specii'c object of the'invention is to lprovide a bottom tank sheet construction which allows the center 'of 'gravity of the tank properxto be lowered, which tank sheet construction may be manufactured at comparatively small expense without the necessity .of drawing of the metal in obtaining the desired -formation.

j( ).therobjects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

.In the drawings formingta part of this siiiecification, Figure l is a central, longitudinal, vertical section of a tank car construction showing my improvements in connection therewith, only a .portion of the tank car being illustrated. F ig. 2 is a broken side elevational view of the tank car illustrated in F ig. l. F ig.V 3 isa part horizontal sectional view, part top plan of one of lthe end underframe arrangements with the tank proper removed. The scaleof Fig. 3 is smaller than that of Figs. l and`2 in order to better accommodate the view on the sheet. And Figs. 4, 5 and `6 are broken vertical transverse sectional views correspond- `mg respectively to the section lines 4 4, 5-5 and 6 6 of Fig. l.

In thedrawings, I have illustrated only so much of the complete car as is necessary to an understandingof .my improvement. Thedrawings illustrate one end of the tank car from the end sill to a point inwardly of the underframe construction employed at each end of the car, it being understood that the arrangement shown fin 'the drawings is duplicated Aat both 'ends ofthe tank car and that, intermediate the end portions,

4thetank is of the usual cylindrical form and provided with the customary filling dome, discharge pipe and accessories. Insaid drawings, the shell or tank proper is shown oi cylindrical form substantially from end to end, except as'hereinafter noted and, in `forming` the tank proper, I preferably employ a longitudinally.extending bottom tank sheet A extending from end `to end oi the tank proper; a plurality ofcircular band sheets lie-B riveted at their ends to `theedgfes of tlie bottom tank sheet A as asin'dicated at l0-l0, and convex ends@ As shown, at veach end ot the car, I employ an andrai-frame' arrangement which 'consists of av'combined draft'sill and center sill member D.; Va built-.up bolster E; short channel side sills F-F; an end silltl; and diagonally extending struts H-H. the latter preferably being in the form of channels with their iianges'tlattened at the ends in order toadapt them tor rivetingto the bolster and end and side sills. The built-up bolster E, as shown, includes a center filler casting l-l disposed within -the member D, and pressed diaphragms l2-12 conformed to the tank 'on each side of the filler casting, top. and bottom -tie plates l3-13 beingalso used.

The ,combined draft `sill and center ,sill

member D is preferably in the form of a sheet metal pressing of substantially inverted U form and having side webs 141--14 and a top connecting web 15. Along the bottom edges of the webs 1A, outturned flanges 16-16 are formed to increase vthe strength as will be understood. Said member D eX- tends from the end sill G through the bolster E and to a point inside of the bolster a distance slightly less than the distance from the center of the bolster to the end sill and to a point as indicated at 17 in Figs. 1 and 2. From the end sill to the bolster, the cross section of the ymember D remains constant at all points therealong but on the inner side of the bolster at a'point beginning` at 18 as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the height of Y the member D is gradually decreased so that the top connecting web 15 thereof is sloped downwardly and inwardly as indicated Vat 152L in Figs. 1 and 2, said sloping portion 15Va being utiliaed as the direct riveting area for the tank proper', as hereinafter explained. Stop lugs for the draft gearn of any desirable form may be secured to the inner sides of the webs 14 as indicated at 19-19. Braces and tie plates may also be employed to strengthen the member D inwardly of the bolster as indicated at 2li-201 As clearly indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, the lower portions of the webs 14 of the member D are extended in planes below'the lowermost part of the tank although it is evident that the lowermost points in the'bottom of the tank are well below the centeq line of the draft riging.

The bottom sheet A of my improved tank car construction is of special form and manufacture in order to provide for the lowering of the center of the tank. Said bottom sheet A is cut to the desired length and width and first bent into true cylindrical or conveX form throughout itsl length as is now done with corresponding bottom sheets of tanks which are truly cylindricalA at every point therein.v Itl will thus be seen that, so far as the initial steps in the manufacture of my bottom plate A are concerned, the same machines now in use may be utilized. The bottom sheet A. initially out and bent as `iust described, is next subjected to a press which indents it or bends it inwardly of the tank to the peculiar form shown and it will be noted that said plate A, as shown, has flat portions extending` centrally longitudinally thereof as indicated at 11.5--115a adapted to rest upon and conform to the portions 15-1v5a of the top web of the member D. On each side of the central portions 115115a, the plate A is made convex on its inner side as indicated at 21-21, said portions 21 merging with the initially formed cylindrical side-portions 22-22 along lines indicated at 25d-23. Each line of coalescence 23 is straight and extends horizontally intermediate the underframe constructions at each end of the car. 1n indentingthe sheet A as just described, l so form it that the length of any line of section of said plate A between the lines of coalescence 23, at any point along the sheet A, equals the lengt-h of any arcuate section between' corresponding points as obtained in the sheet A initially formed truly cylindrical throughout so that the sheet A as ultimately formed does not involve any drawing of the metal but merely simple bending. This l consider of importance inasmuch as the cost of manufacture of thespecially shaped bottom sheet A is reduced to a minimum and at the sameV time its initial strength retained without danger of hnes of weakness being developed during the process of manufacture.

As `will be understood from the foregoin'g`,`Y

the sloping section 115a of the bottom sheet A is riveted to the section 15a and hencethe rivets themselves will entend at an angle to the horizontal. lilith this arrangement, all ordinary builing and pulling shocks which are transmitted in horizontal lines to the underframe and whichV ordinarily tend to shift the tank with respect to the underframe, will. have their shearing effect on the rivets directly uniting the underfraine and tank reduced. This results from the inclined engagement betweenthe underframe member l and the bottom of the tank which causes the horizontally transmitted forces to be partly converted into components extending` perpendicular to the sloping planes of the sections 15a and 1153.

To further assist in anchoring the tank proper to the underframe, l employ two longitudinally extending platesQV-Q, one on each side of the center sill arrangement and located inwardly' of the bolster.v Each of said plates 25 has the main `portion thereof curved to conform. to the periphery of the tank and is riveted to thebottom sheet A by lines of rivets 25-26 which follow approximately the adjacent portions of the lines of coalescense Qlliereinbefore referred to. Along their inner edges, the plates 25 are formed with vertically downwardly extended flanges 27 which 'are riveted to the .corresponding portions of the webs 1d of the member vD as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The combination of the indented portions of the pla-te A` oppositely curved plates and member D forms an unusually rigid girder-like construction having top and bottom chords and struts. This structual formation is especially effective in preventing tendency of the tank e ow vproper to twist or warp under loads imposed by the surging of the contents of the tank proper.

The tank proper is additionally braced and connected to the underframe construction by means of vertically extending plates 28-28 at each end of the bolster, said plates 28 beingriveted at their bottom edges to the side sills and at their top edges to the tank. Partial cradle seats are provided for the tank at the bolster on each side of the center by means of blocks 29 and interposed wood fillers 30-30.

From the preceding description, it will be seen that'the center of gravity of the contents of the tank is appreciably lowered as compared with tanks of 'same diameter which are not dropped below the tops of the center sills of the car and this result is accomplished without any material increase in cost of `manufacture of the tank proper and without any material loss of capacity.

In the drawings l have illustrated the center sills as terminating a few feet inwardly of each bolster but it will still be within the purview of Vmy invention to make the center sills continuous from bolster to bolster. lith the construction shown, I deem it unnecessary to make the center sills continuous for the reason that `my tank proper is united to the under-frame at each end of the car in no less than live different places, two of these being between the side plates 28 and the tank; two of them between the anchor plates 25 and the tank; and the last between the engaging sloping portions of the member D and tank bottom. ln this connection, it will also be observed that the points of anchorage between the tank and underframe at each end of the car are comparatively concentrated as regards the length of the tank and the lines of anchorage arranged laterally opposite each other so that the main portion of the tank, between the points of anchorage, is adapted to expand and contract freely without danger of rupturing any of the rivets and, similarly, the ends of the tank between the bolsters `and end sills are also free to expand and contract without in any wise aecting the securing rivets. As indicated, the jectinends of the tank are free to expand and contract relatively tothe underframe but nevertheless Vthe load of said tank ends is directly supported by the member l).

l have herein shown and described what l now consider the preferred manner of carrying out the invention but the same is merely illustrative and l contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope-of the claims appended hereto.

.l claim:

l. ln a tank car construction, the combination with the underframe including a bolster and draftsills at each end ofthecar, of

a tankproper ofvgenerally cylindrical form throughout and the bottom of which, between bolsters, extends below the tops o'f the holsters, said vtank at each end having a bottom sheet extending over the draft sills and holsters to points spaced inwardly of and away from the bolster, said sheetbeing bent inwardly of the tank and secured at its edges outside of the draft sills to other cylindrically curved tank sheets, the length of any line of section of said bottom sheet at any pointtherealongtaken transverse to the tank equaling the length of any similarly taken section of a sheet outwardly curved throughout to conform to the periphery of the tank and adapted ,to be secured to ksaid other vtank sheets aty correspoiiiding points, said bottom sheet merging into cylindrical form inwardly of the bolster.

2. In a 'tank car construction, the combination with the draft sills and holsters; of a tank of generally cylindrical form throughout, the bottom of said tank, at each end where extended over the bolster and draft sills and also inwardly of the holsters, being indented, the length of the perimeter of said tank at all points alone said indentedends equaling the perimeter of an undented true cylindrical tank of the same diameter whereby said indented bottom portions of the tank maybe made of sheets of original cylindrical form corresponding to the diameter of the tank and then indented without drawing of the metal.

3. In a tank car construction, the combination with the draft sills and holsters; of a tank proper of generally cylindrical form throughout, said tank proper being' formed of a longitudinally extending continuous bottom sheet, end sheets and circularly cxtending band sheets united at their free edges to said bottom sheet, said bottoni sheet, intermediate the holsters, being of curved cylindrical forni conforming to .the diameter of the tank and inwardly indented at each end over the holsters and draft sills, the lengths of all lines of cross section of said bottom sheet taken transverse to the tank proper being equal whereby said bottoni sheet may be initially formed of the saine curvature throughout its length and then indented at its ends by bending'A 4l. In a tank car construction, the combination with the underframe includingl a bolster and draft sills at each end of the car; of a tank proper of generally cylindrical.v form throughout, the bottoni of the tank proper being extended below the tops of the bolsters between the latter and including a continuous bottom sheet, said tank at each end having said bottom sheet extended over the bolster and draft sills and inwardly indented, said indented portions resting upon the bolster and draft sills to the end of the tank, said bottoni .Sheet on each sidejo the ,draft sills being extended downwardly below the tops of the draft sills both outwardly and inwardl of each bolster. Y

5. Iii a tank car construction, the combination with the underframe including, at each end of the car, a bolster, draft sills, and center sills inwardly of the bolster, the tops of said center sills sloping downwardly and inwardly toward the center of the car; of a tank proper', the bottom of which intermediate the holsters, is dropped down below the tops of the holsters, the end portions of the bottom of the tank proper being indented inwardly of the tank and conforming to the lines of the tops of the draft sills and said sloping tops of the center sills, the bottom of the' tank being secured to said center sills alongI said sloping tops thereof.

6. n a tank car construction, the combination with the underframe which includes, at each end of the car, a bolster, draft sills, and center sills inwardly of the bolster, the tops of the latter sloping downwardly and inwardly toward the center of the car; of a tankproper of generallycylindrical form throughout, the bottom of said tank', at each end where extended over said center sills, bolster and draft sills, being indented and conformed to the tops of the ndraft sills-and sloping tops of the center sills and united to. the latter, the length of any line of section of said tank at all points along said indented ends of the tank equaling the length of the perimeter of an undented cylindrical tank of same diameter.

7. Ina tank car construction, the combination with the underframe including, at each end of the car, draft sills, bolster and center sills inwardly of the bolster, the latterl having the to-ps thereof sloped downwardly and inwardlyV from the bolster; of a tank proper, said tank proper having a p0rtion of the bottom thereof sloped to conform to and rest upon said sloping tops of the center sills and riveted to the latter whereby Y said rivets are extended at an angle to the usual lines of horizontally imposed' shock forces and the shearing stresses thereon reduced.

8. In a tank car construction, the combination with draft sills,l bolster and center sills at each end of the car, the center sills being united at their tops by a plate, the latter being sloped downwardly and inwardly from the bolster and providing a flat riveting area incline-'d to the center line of draft; of a tank proper having the bottom thereof, intermediate the holsters, dropped down below the center line of draft, the bottom of said tank having flat sloping sections resting upon and riveted to said sloping top plates of the center sills.

9. In a tank car construction, the combina- I tion with a combined draft and center sill member, said ,member being of substantially inverted U cross section and includingside webs and top connecting web, the latter, inwardly of the bolster line sloping downwardly and providing a riveting area; of a tank proper of generally cylindrical form throughout, the bottom of said tank being dropped below the center line of draft at points intermediate the holsters, the bottom of said tank having a flat section resting upon and riveted to said sloping web portion.

10. In a tank car construction, the combination with the underframe including, at each end of the car, 'craft sills, bolster and center sills inwardly of the bolster, the latter having the tops thereof sloped downwardly and inwardly from the bolster; of a tank proper, said tank proper having a portion of the bottom thereof sloped to conform `to and rest upon said sloping tops of the center sills and riveted to the latter whereby said rivets are extended at an angle to the usual lines of horizontally imposed shock forces and the shearing stresses thereon reduced; and anchor plates each united along one edge to the bottoni of the tank outside of the center sill and along its other edge to the center sill, said anchor plates being laterally opposite said slopping portions of the center sill.

1l. In a tank car construction, the combination with a tank proper of generally cylindrical form and including a longitudinally extending bottom sheet, saidY bottom sheet, centrally of the tank proper, being curved to conform to the cylindrical periphery of the tank proper and at each end being inwardly indented, each indented portion including a horizontally extending flatsection and a sloping section inwardly thereof, the length of all lines of cross section of said plate taken transverse of the tank being equal; Vof a bolster at each end of the car; draft sills at each end of the car and upon which said flat sections of the indented portions of the bottom sheet rest; and center' sills intermediate the holsters sloped downwardly and inwardly from the bolsters and having top plates engaging with and riveted to said sloping sections of the indented ends of the tank proper.

l2. ln a tank car construction, the combination with a tank proper of generally cylindrical form and including a longitudinally extending bottom sheet, said bottomV sheet, centrally of the tank proper, being curved to conform to the cylindrical periphery of the tank proper and at each end being inwardly indented, each idented portion including a horizontally extending flat section and a sloping section inwardly thereof, the length of all lines of cross section of said plate taken transverse of the tank being equal; of a bolster at each end of the car; draft sills at each end of the car and upon which said Hat Vsections O the indented portions of the bottom sheet rest; center sills intermediate the holsters sloped downwardly and inwardly from the holsters and having top plates engaging with and riveted to said sloping sections of the indented ends of the tank proper; and anchor plates disposed inwardly of the holsters and on each side of the center sills, each anchor plate being secured along one edge to the bottom sheet of the tank proper and along its other edge to a center sill, said anchor plates being disposed laterally opposite said.

sloping portions of the center sills.

13. In a tank car, the combination with the under-frame construction including draft sills, holsters, and center sills inwardly of the holsters in line with the draft sills; of a tank proper of substantially cylindrical form; and means for securing said tank proper to said center sills at points both ahove and below the center line of draft.

14. In a tank car, the combination with the underframe construction including draft and center sills; of a tank proper of generally cylindrical form indented at its ends to fit over the draft sills; and anchor plates of curved form corresponding to the curvature of the bottom of the tank proper, said anchor plates being rigidly secured to the tank proper at points above the center line of draft and to the underframe construction at points below the center line of draft.

15. In a tank car7 the combination with the underframe construction including draft and center sills; of a tank proper of generally cylindrical form; and anchor plates of convex cylindrical form secured to the tank proper at points above the center line of draft and to the draft sills inside of the bolster at draft.

16. In a tank car, the combination with the underframe construction including a bolster, draft and center sills; of a tank of substantially cylindrical form throughout with the bottom indented at the ends thereof to adapt the tank to fit over the bolster and draft sills and rest thereon; means for securing the tank proper to the center sills direct inwardly of the bolster; and supplemental anchor plates secured to the tank proper and to the center sills, the points of attachment of said anchor plates to the center sills being below the center line of the draft sills.

17. In a tank car, the combination with the underframe construction including, a body bolster, draft sills and center sills; of a tank proper; means securing the bottom of said tank directly to the center sills; anchor plates on opposite sides of the center sills secured to the tank and to the center sills at points spaced from the direct connections hetween the tank and center sills; and additional side anchor plates secured to the tank proper at points spaced from and above the points of connection between the first named anchor plates and the tank, said side anchor plates being also secured to the underframe construction.

In witness thatI claim the foregoing7 I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of February, A. D. 1921.

ARGYLE CAMPBELL.

points below the center line of Witnesses:

CARRIE GAILING, UNA C. PERiN. 

